Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

What is PREA?The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003 is a federal law established to address the elimination of sexual assault in correctional systems. PREA applies to all federal, state, and local prisons, jails, police lock-ups, private facilities, and community settings such as residential facilities.

PREA sets a standard that protects the Eighth Amendment rights of all inmates – making prevention of sexual assault a top priority. It also increases available data on sexual misconduct and sexual assaults, and it increases the accountability for administrators who fail to prevent, reduce, and punish sexual misconduct and sexual assaults.

How Does PREA Apply to Jails?
PREA seeks to insure that jails and other correctional settings protect inmates from sexual assault, sexual harassment, “consensual sex” with staff, and inmate-inmate sexual assault. These violations affect security and staff safety, and pose long-term risks to inmates and staff inside jails, and to the public when victimized inmates are released into the community.

Sheriff’s Office Zero-tolerance for Sexual Abuse
Sexual assault is NOT TOLERATED in the Arapahoe County Detention Facility. It is the policy of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office that sexual abuse by an employee, contractor, volunteer, or inmate is prohibited. No individual, regardless of his or her title or position, has the authority to commit or allow sexual abuse.

REPORTING A SEXUAL ASSAULT
If you were the victim of a sexual assault or sexual harassment while in the custody of any law enforcement agency or correctional facility – or if you know of an incident of sexual assault or sexual harassment of a person in the custody of any law enforcement agency or correctional facility – you may report it to the Sheriff’s Office using the Citizen’s Online Police Reporting System; by using the PREA Incident Report Form; or by contacting the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility PREA Coordinator, Lieutenant Tammy Vienot at (720) 874-3900 or send us an email.

If requested, your anonymity will be protected. All reported incidents will be investigated. You will be contacted but you may still remain anonymous.